Cable grip



0.} L. KELLEMS 2,676,376

'CABLE GRIP April 27, 1954 Filed May 25, 1951 IN V EN TOR. DAV/p L.ffELLEMS BY A/ZQQLW HZ'TORNEYS Patented Apr. 27, 1954 CABLE GRIP DavidL. Kellems, Mystic, Conn., Kellems Company, Stonington,

assignor to Conn., a partnership consisting of Vivien Kellemsand DavidL. Kellems Application May 25, 1951, Serial No. 228,222

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to cable gripping devices for articles and moreparticularly to the draft ends of such devices for enabling the samewith an article gripped therein to be attached to a supporting meanssuch as an insulator, hook and the like. I

The primary object of the invention is to provide the draft end of acable gripping device with an improved means for attaching the grip to asupport,

A further object of the invention is to provide a. cable grippingdevice-with a universally adaptable open bale which may be threadedthrough, attached to, or hung upon, various types of supp rts.

Other objects of the invention, as well as the advantages thereof, willbecome apparent after a perusal of the following description, when readin connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a topview of the draft or upper end of a grip constructed in accordance withthe invention and showing it mounted on a cable; Fig. 2 is a top view,partly in section, showing the manner in which the draft end of the gripis attached to a round insulator; Fig. 3 is a side view showing themanner in which the draft end of the grip is attached to a closedinsulator which is more commonly known as a house knob; and Fig. 4 is aperspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the sliding member in thedraft end of the grip.

In the drawings, the reference numeral I indicates generally the body ofthe grip which may be a wedge, clamp or other suitable device for firmlygripping the cable II. The particular grip body I 0 shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawing is composed of a plurality of wire strands interlaced orinterwoven to form an open mesh structure adapted to be placed insurrounding gripping relation with an article and having any suitableform. Some examples of the forms in which the woven or mesh grip body I0may be made are illustrated in the E. E. Kellems Patent No. 2,017,625,issued October 15, 1935. Whatever the type of grip body I0 used in thegrip, there is secured to its draft end at least two groups or branchescomposed of a number of wire strands which preferably are woven intorope form. In the grip body I 0 illustrated, the wire strands which goto make up such body, extend beyond the latter and are divided into twobranches I2, I2 each containing a like number of strands. The strands ineach group or branch are connected together adjacent the grip body bymeans of a ferrule I2 and from thence on are twisted n bar I4 on thelatter. Intermediate the holes upon eachother intorope form. The lengthof the branches I2 is substantially greater than they length of the meshbody I0 and such length is determined by the use to which the grip is tobe put. At the outer end of each branch I2 is a lug I5 preferably madeof a short length of heavy walled tubular material and secured to thewire ends of such branch by swaging.

The branches I2 of the grip are threaded through the outer holes I3 of asliding bar I 4. The holes I3 are slightly larger in diameter than thediameter of the rope shaped branches I2 but have a diameter less thanthat of the lugs I5. Thus the bar I4 is readily slidable along thelengths of the branches I2, but is locked or secured on such. branchesby the lugs I5. The holes I3 are preferably peened or countersunk so asto present rounded edges to the branches I2, thus facilitating thesliding movement of the I3, the bar I4 is provided with an elongatedslot composed of an enlarged central portion. I6 and end portions II,II. The central portion of the slot or center hole I 6 has a diameterlarger than the diameter of the lugs I 5 so that the latter may bereadily threaded therethrough. The end portions of the slot or notchesI1, I! have a width less than the diameter of the lugs I 5, but greaterthan the diameterof the branches I2 so that the branches can be readilyinserted into such notches;

in a sidewise direction, but cannot be pulled lengthwise therethrough inone direction when the lugs I5, I5 abut against the inner surface of thesliding bar I4 as shown in Figs. 1-3'01' the drawings.

It will be understood from the foregoing, that in the use of the device,the bale thereof is fastened to a support by wrapping or threading theportions of the branches I2 beyond the sliding bar I 4 around or throughthe support and returning such branches to the sliding bar I 4, when thelugs I5 are inserted through the central hole I6 of such bar and theadjacent ends of the branches then pushed or latched sideways into thenotches I'I, I1 as is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Thus when thegrip is to be attached to an insulator I9 such as shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings, the portions of the strands I2 beyond the sliding bar I4 areturned around in the groove I8 of such insulator in opposite directionsand then the lugs I5 inserted through the hole I6 and the branches I2inserted in the notches as previously explained. Usually the sliding barI4 is held away from the support until the branches have been wrappedaround or through the holding device or support and the branches securedto the plate 14 in the manner aforesaid, and then cinched up tightagainst the support by pulling on the branches 12. With the sliding barthus cinched up against the insulator 19, it will enter into and befirmly held in the grooves l8, thus locking the looped end of the gripbale toth'e insulator. The end portions of the branches l2 will besecurely locked in the notches ll of the bar 14 because of the resilientor spring action of the wires in such strands. Insulators such as shownin Fig. 2 of the drawings are usually held on a rack or bar andare-thusclosed so that an ordinary eye cannot be placed over the insulator. Withthe instant "construction however, the open ends of the strands with thesmall size of the lugs 15 attached thereto make it possible to readilysecure the grip to an insulator so mounted.

The facility with which the instant device may be attached to closedopenings is illustrated in Fig. 3'01 the "drawings. In'the house knobtype of insulator 21 there shot'vm'the plugs 15 are inserted through theopening 20 thereof in opposite directions and then :secured to thesliding bar .14 in the manner previously explained. The sliding bar .1 4is th'enoin'chediup against the insulator to lock itini-thergrooveformedin the .forward end of the insulator, .asillustrated. With the sliding.bar grooves of :the insulator it or 21, it maintains theportionscoftthe'branches extending .therefrom to the grip body 10 .inseparated relationship. Preferably .the holes l3, iii .in the slidingbar 14 are spaced-apart a :distance at least as great as the diameter ofthe grip "body so that the bar holds :such branch portions .in separatedparallel relation or in diverging relation to the grip body. Bythisarrangement'of the branches, the strains exerted on the grip body.are equally distributed upon thetstrands throughout the area of thegrip body affording a more positive 'and firmer grip of :the body 10.upon the cable or other article gripped thereby, and minimizing. anypossible cutting action 'of the strands at the draft end or shoulders ofthe. gripbody IU Qn-the articIe being gripped. In this latterconnection. such cutting-action-is substantially eliminatedif thesliding bar "M is so constructed that the portions of'rbranche's I2leadingfrom such bart'o the grip J body are maintained in divergingrelation relative to the latter.

=While I have illustrated and hereinabove describedaipre'ferredembodimentof my invention,

:14 thus .firmly latched in the it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In a gripping device of the character described, 6a body portion adapted to be placed in gripping relationon an article to :be held, aplurality of elongated flexible members connected to said body portionand extending therefrom in spaced relation, the outer free ends of saidflexible members being provided with locking means, and a memberslidably connected to said flexible members between-said body portionand said locking means, .said member including a plurality of spacedopeningsthrough which said flexible members extend and .a slotintermediate said openings, said slot having an enlarged portion throughwhich :said locking means may be inserted and having a reduced portionadapted to receive a flexible member but :to.prevent-thezpassagetherethrough of the locking means in the free end of such flexiblemember.

2. Ina gripping device of the character described, a body portionadapted .to be'placed in gripping relation on an article to be held,iaiplurality of elongated flexiblemembers connected to said body portionand extending therefrom in spaced relation, a lug provided on the freeend of each of said flexible members, and a member slidably connected tosaid flexible members between said body'portion and said lugs, saidmember including a plurality of :spaced openings through which said.iiexible members extend and a slot intermediate said openings, saidslot having an enlarged central .portion through which said lugs may beinserted and having reduced end portions of a width to readily receivesaid flexible members, but .to prevent the passage therethrough of thelugs on the free ends of said members.

References Cited in the file :of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 642,214 "Enright Jan. 30, 1900 1,413,818 WilkinsonApr/2'5, 1922 1,521,619 Haas Jan. 6, 1925 2,330,538 Allen -'Sept..2'8,1943 2,463,116 Lewis Mar. 1, .1949 2,510,186 Marsico June 6, .19502,551,803 Leonard May .8, 1951 2,560,418 'Di Palma July 10, I951

